DENTAL CLINICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21386, 14 July 1931, Page 7

DENTAL CLINICS

THE ADDITIONAL CHARGE MINISTER’S PLEA FOR COUNTRY DISTRICTS. I Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 13. Exception to the additional charge of £3O per nurse which dental clinics committees have been called upon to find, to cover the cost of drugs and material was taken by a combined deputation representing the three clinics in the .Hutt Valley, which waited upon the Minister of Health (Mr A. J. Stallworthy ) this afternoon. The Minister said that the question was one of finance. He would, however, place the representations before tlffi Government. Ho asked the deputation to appreciate the difficulties of those in rural districts who were not so fortunately placed and had no clinics at all. Country people argued that it was unfair to establish clinics in and adjacent to cities and towns where professional dentists were available, while children in the country were without clinics or even the advantage of a professional practitioner. It would cost £200,000 to make the service available to all children of the age of those treated under the present scheme. That would no doubt be a splendid investment, but an extension of social services could only be made in terms of taxation. Those fortunate enough to possess services should bear a little more of the cost material, so that the department would be better able to extend services to those who at present had none. The whole of last year’s extensions had to be borne out of savings and economies in his own department, there being no appropriation at all for that purpose.